Calcutta Customs trounce Peerless in CFL clash

The defeat marks a dent in the visitors' title challenge this season.

Calcutta Customs defeated Peerless SC in a 3-1 Calcutta Football League (CFL) encounter at the Kalyani Stadium on Monday. 

The game kicked off with great energy. Both the sides played positive football, but the first proper chance of the game fell to Peerless. Forward Ansumana Kromah was almost through on goal, following some excellent midfield passing. However, a last-ditch scramble from Customs goalkeeper Shubham prevented the former East Bengal and Mohun Bagan attacker from registering the first goal in the game.

The game slowly settled into a pattern, with Customs dominating possession, but failing to capitalize on their chances. However, they came close to taking the lead sometime later, when they found some free space in the box and managed to get a header. However, the header deflected off of a Peerless defender and was safely cleared. The pattern continued for the rest of the half, and Peerless once again got a chance to establish a lead but the lack of a body in the middle of the box caused the ball to roll across the face of the goal. At halftime, the scores read 0-0.

The second half began on a similar note, with both teams fighting to establish dominance. The midfield battle became cagey as misplaces began to become the norm. Customs hit the side netting on an occasion but failed to take control of the game. They would soon pay for their lackadaisical attitude, as a defence-splitting pass found Peerless forward Kromah in an open space in front of the goal. The Liberian kept a cool head and set it up for Anthony to tap it in an open net. The score read 1-0 in favour of the Blues.

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Having fallen back, Customs finally spurred to life. The game heated up as Kromah had to be stretchered off due to an off-the-ball foul on him. Customs missed two sitters in quick succession, while Peerless on the other hand almost doubled their lead but the shot just whizzed past the goal. Finally, Customs got their well-deserved equaliser after some good work down the right wing found Stanley in space. He placed his shot at the bottom left corner and equalised the proceedings.

Peerless lost the plot of the game after that. Another cross from the right wing found Stanley in an open space, who headed the ball in to make it 2-1 for Customs. In the dying moments, they made it 3-1 after left winger Amit found himself unmarked in the box and tucked a cross in an open net. The game ended soon after, with Customs staging an incredible comeback after being the second best team for most of the game.